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Akwa Ibom, Cross River Deploy Preventive Measures Against Flood, Erosion
Akwa Ibom, Cross River Deploy Preventive Measures Against Flood, Erosion
Akwa Ibom and Cross River has deploy preventive measures against flood, erosion.
Stakeholders have said that intensive preventive measures are in place to contain flooding, save lives and property, and prevent further erosion in both states.
Akwa Ibom and Cross River stakeholders have said that intensive preventive measures are in place to contain flooding, save lives and property, and prevent further erosion in both states.
The stakeholders made the remarks in response to a survey on actions taken by erosion-prone states to mitigate floods. They said plans were underway to evacuate people living in the most flood-prone areas, while efforts were also underway to reclaim land devastated by erosion.
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In Akwa Ibom, the commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, said the state government was taking several steps to check flooding and protect the ecological environment.
He said the government had already taken measures to mitigate erosion across the 31 local government areas by investing billions of naira in intervention projects.
Mr Umanah said the government had reclaimed the erosion site on Atiku Abubakar Avenue and had recently ordered the desilting of the road’s drains to contain the predicted flood. He stated that one of the first projects inaugurated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in the state was the 1.48km underground drainage line on Atiku Abubakar Avenue.
Mr Umanah added that the government had also constructed erosion-control drainage lines off the Two Lanes that channelled water away from Oron Road. He explained that the drainage line was connected to underground lines running towards the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
He said the governor also directed the construction of the adjoining Afaha Ube Street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene Road with immediate effect in order to control flooding in the area.
The commissioner added that work was ongoing along Uyo Village Road to reclaim about 4.3km of gully erosion that had almost destroyed several parts of the city, including the Government House.
He said the government had almost solved the devastating gully erosion that occurred on a previously abandoned refuse dump site along Uyo Village Road, reclaiming the area for a middle-class housing estate and recreational centres.
He said that, as part of its ecological remediation efforts, the government reclaimed 73 hectares of land affected by gully erosion across Etim Usanga, Udo Umana, and Usanga streets off Brook Street.
Mr Umanah said the government had invested billions of naira in the Ibom Arise Park Project, deploying massive reclamation efforts to arrest severe land degradation and turning a threatening ecological disaster site into an eco-friendly tourist and resort destination.
Mr Umanah said the governor had directed the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Akpan Ikim, to ensure adequate desilting of side drains across the metropolis.
The commissioner said residents living in low-lying coastal areas had also been directed to relocate to upland areas to avoid impending danger.
Mr Umanah said the government had warned against indiscriminate waste dumping that blocks drainage channels and against building on waterways, adding that structures on waterways would be demolished. He said a committee comprising the commissioners for environment and water resources, health, agriculture, internal security, lands, and AKSEPWMA had been set up to interface with federal agencies to propose mitigation actions against flooding.
Mr Ikim said the main approach to flooding was heavy infrastructure for long-term control, routine desilting, and community cleanup for immediate risk reduction.
In Cross River, the government said plans were underway to tackle major erosion and flood-prone areas ahead of the intensified rainfall forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Obeten Otu, acting project coordinator of the Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project, said the erosion project was previously funded by the World Bank. He said the project was being financed by the European Investment Bank, following the World Bank’s exit on 30 June, 2022.
He explained that current intervention efforts in Cross River focused on severe and catastrophic gully erosion sites across the state to prevent further environmental degradation.
Flood
“NEWMAP-EIB has deployed Gully Rapid Action Slope Stabilisation measures to minimise erosion impacts pending permanent remediation works,” he said.
He said Governor Bassey Otu had approved the commencement of engineering designs for six gully erosion and flood control sites that required revalidation and 10 new engineering designs for the state’s most severe erosion sites.
Mr Otu added that NEWMAP-EIB always collaborated with NiMet and the Cross River Basin Authority to monitor flood and erosion risks and strengthen early response measures statewide.
Effiong Ayi, executive secretary of the Calabar Urban Development Agency, said the government had adopted science-based and community-focused measures to mitigate flooding and protect lives and property.
He listed ongoing interventions such as dredging of waterways, widening canals, clearing drainages, and demolishing structures obstructing flood channels.
Mr Ayi noted that the state would soon launch radio awareness campaigns and establish a task force to combat indiscriminate dumping of refuse into waterways. He urged residents to comply with environmental laws, avoid building on waterways, and report blocked drainage systems to the relevant authorities.
Antigha Gill, director-general of State Emergency Management Agency, said 13 council areas in the state had been identified as high-flood-risk zones. Mr Gill said SEMA, in collaboration with NEMA, had commenced community sensitisation campaigns across vulnerable areas.
Mr Gill said the agency had engaged traditional rulers, youth groups, emergency responders, and community stakeholders on flood preparedness and response measures. He disclosed that the state fire service had also been mobilised to support rescue operations in the event of possible flooding.
Mr Gill added that government efforts focused on disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and reducing the long-term effects of climate change and poor land use. He said SEMA would expand sensitisation campaigns to other parts of the state, as it had begun stockpiling emergency materials and relief items ahead of the peak rainfall period.
However, the National Emergency Management Agency in Rivers called for the establishment of state emergency management agencies backed by law to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.
Eric Ebhodaghe, acting director of the South-South zonal directorate of NEMA, also urged states to establish functional local government emergency management committees to ensure effective disaster response. He said the appeal followed flood predictions indicating that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory would experience moderate and high flood risks in 2026.
According to him, local emergency committees should serve as first responders, while SEMAs would complement local efforts before seeking national intervention when necessary.
On evacuation plans, Mr Ebhodaghe said emergency frameworks identified high-risk areas and mapped out safe zones across the country.
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Anthony Joshua Dedicates Comeback Victory To Friends Killed In Ogun Crash
Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has dedicated his victory over Kristian Prenga to his late friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, after overcoming two knockdowns to secure a second-round knockout win.
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The bout, watched online, marked Joshua’s first fight since a car crash in Ogun State, Nigeria, in December claimed the lives of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer.
Joshua entered the ring wearing camouflage attire bearing the names of the deceased coaches in their honour.
Speaking after the fight, the former world heavyweight champion described the victory as a tribute to their memory.
“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That’s life.
“It was more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina and their families. It still hurts to talk about it. It’s been tough,” he said.
Joshua, who started the contest as the overwhelming favourite, suffered a dramatic opening round after Prenga knocked him down twice within the first three minutes.
However, the British boxer recovered to dominate the contest, eventually stopping the Albanian in the second round to remain on course for a highly anticipated showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised the former champion’s resilience, describing his performance as remarkable given the personal tragedy he had endured.
“To even step into the ring was astonishing,” Hearn said.
He added that Joshua had used his training camp to remain focused while coping with grief, noting that the fighter had shown exceptional determination after being knocked down twice.
Hearn also confirmed that contracts had been been signed for the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Joshua and Fury, although the date and venue have yet to be announced.
Anthony Joshua
Fury, who defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, did not attend Joshua’s fight as he returned to the Isle of Man after his bout.
“I respect everything he has achieved, but this is the fight we’ve been calling for and now we’re here.
“I hope the fans will enjoy it.
“I’ve learned that I can’t be stopped, I won’t be denied, and we’re coming.” Joshua added.
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Babachir Lawal: Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket Has 70% Chance Of Winning In 2027 election
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said a joint presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso has a stronger chance of winning the 2027 presidential election than if both politicians had chosen to contest separately.
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Lawal made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni TV released on Saturday.
According to him, an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would stand a 70 per cent chance of victory, while he predicted that President Bola Tinubu would have a 50 per cent chance and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would lose.
“Peter Obi will try to be fair to everybody. Peter Obi will try to do that which is right. Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, take note, I’m pairing them. I’m pairing them. Individually will be disaster, but I’m pairing them.
“So I’ll give them, on my own scale, close to like 70 per cent. Again, Bola, 50. Atiku, zero,” Lawal said.
“Definitely, Atiku will lose. He will, and I pray he loses. I’m not the only one, and he will lose,” he said.
Lawal’s comments come after his fallout with Atiku following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress.
Obi, Kwankwaso
The former SGF has repeatedly alleged that the ADC presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate was marred by widespread irregularities, claims the party has not officially accepted.
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ICPC: Responsible Data Handling Is Inseparable From Our Anti-Corruption Mandate
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has affirmed that responsible data handling is inseparable from the Commission’s anti-corruption mandate, stressing that public trust depends not only on the Commission’s ability to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, but also on its capacity to protect personal information entrusted to it.
The Chairman made this known while declaring open a One-Day Sensitization and Awareness Programme on Data Protection and Privacy for officers and staff of the Commission held at the ICPC Headquarters, Abuja.
The programme, themed “Responsible Data Handling: Strengthening Accountability and Preserving Public Trust through Data Protection,” was organised to deepen awareness of responsible data management and strengthen a culture of accountability across the Commission.
Dr. Aliyu, represented by the Director, Legal Services Department, Mr. Henry Emore, noted that the Commission receives, processes, analyses, stores, shares and retains enormous volumes of information in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, much of which relates to petitioners, suspects, witnesses, complainants, employees, contractors, consultants and members of the public.
According to him, every personal record in the Commission’s custody represents an individual’s dignity, privacy and trust, making it imperative for officers to ensure that such information is handled lawfully, responsibly and securely.
He explained that while data has become one of the most valuable assets in modern governance, enhancing decision-making, service delivery and investigations, its mishandling could expose individuals to harm, compromise investigations, undermine public confidence and damage institutional reputation.
The ICPC Chairman further stated that data protection is no longer the exclusive responsibility of ICT professionals or legal practitioners but has become an essential element of good governance, transparency, accountability and institutional integrity.
Emphasising that responsible data handling is integral to the Commission’s anti-corruption mandate, Dr. Aliyu urged officers to demonstrate integrity in the collection, access, use, disclosure, storage and disposal of personal information, noting that the principles of accountability, fairness, confidentiality and respect for individual rights must guide every aspect of the Commission’s operations.
He disclosed that the Commission has continued to strengthen its internal data protection governance framework through the establishment of the Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT), comprising officers drawn from various departments and units to identify compliance gaps, promote awareness, improve internal processes, strengthen incident response mechanisms and embed privacy considerations into operational activities.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commission’s Data Protection Officer, Barr. David Nwaze, described the sensitization programme as a strategic initiative designed to reinforce the understanding that data protection is not merely a legal obligation but a professional responsibility and a shared institutional value.
Barr. Nwaze expressed appreciation to the Chairman and the Management of the Commission for their unwavering support towards advancing ICPC’s data protection compliance journey.
ICPC
He urged participants to actively engage in the programme, ask questions, share experiences, and apply the knowledge gained in their daily responsibilities, stressing that protecting personal data is fundamental to safeguarding institutional integrity, preserving public confidence, and strengthening accountability within the Commission.
The event featured two paper presentations titled “Responsible Data Handling: Strengthening Accountability and Preserving Public Trust through Data Protection,” delivered by Mr. Inelegwu Egahi, and “The ICPC–NDPC Collaboration: Leveraging ICPC’s Institutional Mandate to Strengthen Data Protection Compliance in the Public Sector,” presented by a Nigeria Data Protection Commission official, Barr. Babatunde Bamigboye.
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